Charger Tournament off and running at Chatfield High School

LITTLETON — Chatfield boys basketball program has already turned the page on its 4-win season from last year.

“The hardest part is getting your whole team on the same page,” Chatfield senior Creighton Chaney said about rebounding from a disappointing 4-19 record last year. “We’ve put the work in and decided to step it up. We don’t want teams to look at us on their schedule and just bypass us.”

New Chatfield head coach Nathan Jerome has the Chargers off to a 2-1 record. Chatfield took care of business against D’Evelyn with a 68-36 win in the final of four games Wednesday night at the Charger Tournament at Chatfield High School.

“Some of it was just building the confidence back up. It is just a change in thinking,” Jerome said of the Chargers starting fresh this season. “In a good way we only had a few kids who played varsity last year. We don’t have a lot of (varsity) experience and sometimes that is good.”

Jerome — who was an assistant coach the previous three seasons at neighboring Dakota Ridge — has a diverse group. He started a pair of seniors, a junior and two sophomores in the decisive victory against D’Evelyn (0-5).

“It is an incredible basketball community. The school is awesome. The administration has been great,” Jerome said. “The kids are awesome and I know they don’t just want to be good basketball players. They want to be good young men.”

Jerome was able to give court time to all his players in the 32-point win. Ten players scored with sophomore Brody Logan leading the way with 14 points. Chaney was the other Charger to reach double-digit points pouring in 10 points.

Chatfield jumped out to an early 10-0 leading in the opening minutes scoring five straight baskets in the paint. However, the Jaguars got things going and went on a 12-0 run themselves to take a 12-10 lead at one point when Chatfield’s shooting went cold.

“We still have a long way to go on our offense,” said Jerome, who was missing one of their leading scoring in Indiana Hostetler due to illness. “Defense was our priority in the beginning. Now we are trying to figure out what is going to make us run in the half court.”

The Chargers’ defense locked down D’Evelyn in the final three quarters, allowing just 23 points after the Jaguars had 13 points after the first quarter.

“Defense is definitely where we want to start everything,” Jerome said. “We really like to run, but you can’t run until you get stops and rebounds. We’ve come a long way, but we are running something new and it has been an adjustment for the boys. They are excepting it and finding their role.”

Chaney — son of Green Mountain High School basketball legend Colby Chaney, who helped the Rams win the Class 5A state title in 1992 — wants to be a big part in helping Chatfield’s boys basketball program back on track.

“We want to switch this whole program around,” Chaney said. “It always comes down to mentoring. I’m a senior myself. I look after the freshmen and sophomores. I help tell them right from wrong and how to be better players. It has been working out. I’m proud to be on this Chatfield squad right now.”

Chatfield will be joined by Highlands Ranch, Legacy and Heritage in the winner’s bracket semifinals Friday, Dec. 13, back at Chatfield High School. Legacy and Heritage is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff, while the host Chargers will face Highlands Ranch (3-1) in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.

That tournament championship game will be played at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Heritage High School.

“Every game is important no matter what,” Chaney said heading into Friday’s match-up against Highlands Ranch. “It doesn’t matter if it is a home game, away game or tournament game. You want to fight with the same effort. You want to prove you are a tough team. Hopefully we can bring this one home and win this tournament. That’s our goal.”

Highlands Ranch defeated Mead 69-52 in the third game of the night Wednesday. Heritage and Legacy rolled to double-digit victories in the opening two games of the tournament.

Heritage cruised to a 85-58 victory over Bear Creek. Eagle junior Trystan Rangel and senior Brayden Chaney both poured in 20-plus points each to advance. Legacy (1-2) punched its ticket to face Heritage (2-3). The Lightning took a 65-53 victory over Erie. Senior Jaedon Word had a monster game with a 30-point performance to lead Legacy.